Pumpkin Pulled Pork

Oh pumpkin season, you have arrived, and I am not upset about it at all!

Pumpkin, the almightily orange squash that I can’t get enough of during the fall months.

It’s not only delicious, it’s good for you! Pumpkin is packed with Vitamin A, great for your eyes, it’s also a great source of fiber-to-calorie ratio. Basically meaning, it’s very low in calories compared to the amount of fiber you get per cup, helping keep you full longer while taking in less calories.

Now that Fall has arrived, I decided to start brainstorming a couple of new pumpkin recipe ideas. I have no clue where the idea for Pumpkin Pulled Pork came from, but man am I glad it came from somewhere in my imaginative foodie mind!

The pulled pork starts with a delicious pumpkin spice rub, then a sage and pumpkin puree sauce is poured over the pork, then the crock pot goes to work.

After 6-8 hours of slow cooking, you have a delicious, sweet, salty and savory pulled pork that is perfect for sandwiches, stuffing into sweet potatoes or just eating straight out of the slow cooker with a fork (OK, not the most elegant way to eat it, but it might have happened in my house, haha!)

Ingredients

1.5 lb pork tenderloin

1 tbsp brown sugar

½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground nutmeg

½ tsp ground allspice

½ tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp salt

1 cup pumpkin puree

½ cup chicken broth

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp fresh sage (chopped)

Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cumin and salt in a small bowl.

Grab a couple of forks and shred the pork in the crockpot. After 6-8 hours it will basically just fall apart as soon as the fork hits it!

I served mine on Hawaiian Roll hamburger buns for an extra little sweetness (and because they’re so delicious!)

Instead of coleslaw, typically served on pulled pork sandwiches, I topped this one with sliced apples.

The combination of sliced apples on pumpkin pulled pork, I mean, hello fall!!!

♦ Gluten Free Option: The pulled pork recipe is gluten-free (always make sure the chicken broth used is gluten free). Serve without the bun. I recommend stuffing the pulled pork in sweet potatoes for a super delicious, healthy and gluten free meal!

Hi, I'm Whitney! I’m a sports-loving, coffee-drinking, food blogger, the host of “ 29 Minute Meals”, a contributing writer for TODAY Food, cookbook author and on camera food and lifestyle expert, regularly featured on news stations across the country! On my blog, you’ll find most recipes are made in 29 minutes or less, in one pot, or in a crock pot!
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